The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-06-24
Comptroller Trenholm Appears on the Scene
and Takes Personal Charge of the Broken
Bank, Displacing All Old Employees.
The Bondsmen of Harper and Hopkins
Desert in the Hour of Greatest Need,
And the Vice-President and Assistant Cashier
Spend the Night in Jail-A Receiver for
the Whiteley Reaper Mandatory.
THE FIDELITY BANK.
Comptroller Trenholm Takes Possession and
Begins an Investigation.

Comptroller Trenholm Takes Possession and
Begins an Investigation.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
CINCINNATI, June 23.-United States Comp
troller Trenholm, when ne took possession of
the Fidelity Bank, to-day, instituted sweeping
change. All the clerks employed by Bank Ex-
amiper Powell were relieved from duty and
Trenholm's own rlen put in. The di-
rectors and officers of the bank were
excluded. and the work of exposing the
ruins proceeded rapidly. Meanwhile. Harper.
Hopkins and Baldwin were put In the private
Office, and deputy United States Marshal Me-
Ilvane was told to watch them and not let
them leave the place. Later in the
afternoon Harper and Hopkins were
taken before United States Commissioner
Hooper, who informed them that their bonds
men desired to be released from their bail bonds
Up to this hour they have failed TO find any
willing to help them, and the prospects are they
will spend the night in Jail. Baldwin was moro
fortunate. His bondsmen stuck to him, and he
was permitted to go home.
The crime for which Joseph w. Wiltshire was
arrested is "aiding and abetting E. L. Harper
and Benjamin E. Hopkins in embezzinc alb
straoting and msapplying the funds. moneys
clnnati, banking association incorporated under
the banking laws of the United States"
Shortly before 10 o'clock tonight, Harper and
Hopkins, failing to secure bondsmen,
taken to the county Jail and locked up.
This evening J. w. Wiltshire, the broker who
took the checks of the Fidelity Bank to Chicago
to try and hold MP the market. also arrested,
charged with aiding willful and unlawful misap-
rlication of tha funds of the hank Ha pave
bonds in $50. 900.
The board of directors os the Chamber of Com
merce, at a meeting held to-day, appointed
committee composed of Levi C. Goodale, Ralph
Peters and William L. Hunt to investigate
rumors of unmercantile conduct on the part of
E. l.. Harper. Ammi Baldwin, Benjamin f.
Hopkins and others connected with the Fidelity
National Bank, and to prefer charges against
them in case the proof warrants such proceed
ing. The chairman of the committee, Mr..
Goodale. asks for any Information pertinent to
the affair from any source
InteIview with the lsaniS's -Prasi<ient. E
Cincinnati Enquirer.
Mr.. Briggs Swift, the venerable president Of
the now defunct Fidelity. was propped up in his
bed by two large pillows, at his home, when seen
by friend. His condition was truly pitiable,
incidents consequent to the sudden collapse of
the great institution. Mr. Swift is in his seven
ty-sixth year, and hale and hearty as he was a
day ago. he now presents most marked
change. He looked up wearily as the reporter
entered his room. He was simply reclining upon
the bed, a plain smoking gown covering his
shoulders and was wrapped closely about his
form.
"Mr. Swift" remarked the visitor. as he took
a chair to which the venerable gentleman mo-
toned him. lit appears to be the understanding
among bankers and business men generally who
have any knowledge of banking matters that you
for every cent of money misappropriated
from the funds of the Fidelity Bank"
I'm what wayl" asked Mr.. Swift.
"On account of having retained in your en-
ploy a man who is accused of having been an
embezzer," was the answer.
Il know to whom you refer" he said. raising
back the hair from the side of his head, and he
appeared in deep thought. Then his face took
on a look of deep determination. mo person."
he said, ''will lose cent if can help it. If it
takes every cent of my money, far as am
concerned. they shall lose nothing 1t is not
my wealth that Is at stake. but my honor, and
if it costs me every dollar all will be paid"
This was said with a spirit that was not to be
misunderstood. Then he relapsed into silence
again.
'sWhat do you think of the opinion expressed
by some lawyers that all of the stockholders of
the bank who are solvent being accountable for
the liabilities of those insolventp asked the
reporter
THAT matter has been thoroughly discussed,
believe" he replied "You mean, of course,
as referring to those stockholders and directors
who are outside of what is known as the Harper
crowd, who. it is claimed, are insolvent. Well,
of course, that will depend entirely upon the
construction placed upon the banking laws. 1
am not sufficiently acquan ted with them to offer
opinion, but my understanding has always
been that each stockholder is only liable for
double the amount of his stock. But as far as
am concerned am not willing that any deposi-
shall lose one cent"
"When did you first suspect that things were
not they should be at the bankp
ut was several days ago. Last Sunday morn
lug l went to the bank, where, by previous en-
gagement, / met of the clerks. 1 asked
him for u statement of the banks condition. /
was accompanied by Mr.. Zimmerman. whom
had asked to 60 with me. The clerk worked for
some time and then told me that had some
thing over 81 600 900 on hand in cash and securi-
ties. examined further. and found that this
cash and securities were nothing more than the
papers of Joe Wiltshire. Then / knew what